Sugar dispenser



1957 LA MAR-s. WILLIAMS i 2,801,777

SUGAR DISPENSER Filedflct. 28, 1955 Lg Mar 5. Williams INVENTOR.

, 9 BY 24.0406 all! 7 m United States Patent SUGAR DISPENSER La Mar S. Williams, Salt Lake City, Utah Application October 28, 1955, Serial No. 543,511

1 Claim. (Cl. 222-455) This invention pertains to dispensing containers particularly for sugar, although it will be understood, of course, that the device may be used for dispensing any other products for which it may be found adapted and desirable.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser of the character set forth which, when tilted or inverted, will accurately measure and discharge a predetermined quantity of sugar.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a measuring sugar dispenser for table use, which dispenser will be of relatively simple construction, sanitary, compact, attractive in appearance and which may be produced at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a sugar dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the upper portion of the device, taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a container of suitable plastic which is designated generally by reference character 6. The container 6, which is formed by injection molding, is provided with an integral top 7 comprising a central dome 8.

Of course, the container 6 is for the reception of sugar. Toward this end, the container 6 includes a substantially funnel-shaped bottom 9 having a threaded filling opening 10 therein. A removable plug 11 of suitable plastic is screwed into the opening 10. The plug 11 includes a peripheral flange 12 of arcuate cross section adapted to seat in the substantially funnel-shaped bottom 9 for additionally sealing the opening 10. The plug 11 further includes a depending gripping rib 13 to facilitate inserting and removing said plug.

The front and back walls of the container 6 are bulged in a manner to provide vertical troughs or channels 14 and 15, respectively, in said container. A discharge or pouring opening 16 in the top 7 of the container 6 communicates with the trough 14.

Mounted at an inclination in the upper, front portion Patented Aug. 6, 1957 of the container 6 is a substantially triangular partition 17 providing a compartment 18. Depending from the top 7 in the front portion of the container 6 and traversing the upper portion of the trough 14 is an integral baffle 19 which defines, in conjunction with the partition 17, a measuring chamber 20 in the upper portion of said container. The baflle 19 terminates in a beveled lower end spaced from the partition 17 to provide a passage 21 from the measuring chamber 20 to the lower portion of the compartment 18. A plurality of spaced, parallel horizontal slots 22 are provided in the upper portion of the partition 17 for the passage of sugar from the container 6 into the measuring chamber 20.

Of course, to fill the container 6 to the desired level the closure plug 11 is removed from the bottom 9. In use, the container 6 is tilted forwardly or inverted and the measuring chamber 20 fills by gravity to the correct level through the ports or slots 22. The container 6 is then returned to an upright position and the sugar in the chamber 20 flows by gravity through the passage 21 into the lower portion of the compartment 18. When the container 6 is again tilted or inverted the measured quantity of sugar in the lower portion of the compartment 18 is discharged by gravity through the opening 16 from the trough 14 and the measuring chamber 20 refills. The foregoing operation may be repeated until the supply of sugar in the container 6 is completely exhausted.

It is believed that the many advantages of a sugar dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A sugar dispenser of the character described comprising: a vertically elongated plastic container for the reception of sugar, said container comprising an integral top including a central dome, said container further comprising integral front and back walls including opposed, outwardly protruding vertical troughs, one of said troughs being open at its upper end, a substantially triangular inclined partition fixed in the upper portion of the container, said partition having its upper end portion engaged beneath the top and the dome and its lower end portion engaged in said one trough at an intermediate point, said partition defining a dispensing compartment in the container communicating with said one trough and having transverse slots in said upper end portion thereof communicating with said container for the passage of sugar therefrom into said compartment, and an integral battle in the container depending from the top between the dispensing compartment and said one trough, said baffle terminating at its lower end in spaced relation to the partition for defining, in conjunction therewith, a passage for the sugar from the dispensing compartment into said one trough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,248,345 Kunkler Nov. 27, 1917 1,931,270 Rice Oct. 17, 1933 2,241,044 Stenberg May 6, 1941 2,511,493 Cerruti June 13, 1950 2,668,639 Scalf Feb. 9, 1954 

